Blueberry plant named ‘ZF08-029’

Abstract

The new blueberry plant variety ZF08-029 is provided. ZF08-029 is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of G-344 (female parent, not patented) and Draper (male parent, U.S. Pat. No. 15,103), which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

Claims

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ZF08-029, substantially as illustrated and described herein.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ZF08-029. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

(2) FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ZF08-029, demonstrating the plant's leaves and growth habit in the fall. The plants were grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Nov. 18, 2014.

(3) FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit cluster of the new variety ZF08-029 grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Jul. 3, 2014.

(4) FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ZF08-029 grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Apr. 25, 2017.

(5) FIG. 4 is a photograph of the fall foliage of the new variety ZF08-029 grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Nov. 21, 2014.

(6) FIG. 5 is a photograph of early buds on the variety ZF08-029 grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Mar. 20, 2014.

(7) FIG. 6 is a photograph of the bark on the variety ZF08-029 grown in Lowell, Oreg. and photographed on Jul. 29, 2014.

(8) The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

(9) The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ZF08-029. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 5 years of age, unless otherwise noted, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field located at 39252 Jasper-Lowell Road, Lowell, Oreg., USA. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown at the field described above. Color designations are from The Pantone Book of Color (by Leatrice Eiseman and Lawrence Herbery, Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York 1990). Where the Pantone color designations differ from the colors of the photographs, the Pantone colors are accurate. Classification: a. Family.Ericaceae. b. Genus.Vaccinium. c. Species.Corymbosum hybrid. d. Common name.Northern Highbush Blueberry. Parentage: Female Parent G-344. (not patented). Male Parent Draper. (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,103). Market class: Fresh and process markets.

PLANT

(10) General: a. Plant height.Average 1.33 m. b. Plant width.Average 1.52 m. c. Growth habit.Semi-sprawling. d. Growth.High vigor. e. Productivity.High. In Lowell, Oreg. on 3-year-old plants 6.13 lbs. per plant, compared to Legacy (not patented) plants of the same age which produced an average of 8.40 lbs. per plant and Draper plants which produced 4.54 lbs. per plant. On 4-year-old plants ZF08-029 produced 8.16 lbs. per plant, compared to Legacy that produced an average of 9.92 lbs. per plant and Draper that produced 4.71 lbs. per plant. On 5-year-old plants ZF08-029 produced 11.11 lbs. per plant while Legacy produced 10.21 lbs. per plant and Draper produced 6.62 lbs. per plant. f. Cold hardiness.Approximately USDA zones 6-8. g. Chilling requirement.Estimated minimum of 500-1000 hours below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. h. Leafing.Moderate. i. Twigginess.Low. j. Resistance/susceptibility to root rot (Phytopthora cinnamomii).Does not seem overly susceptible. k. Resistance/susceptibility to stem blight (botryosphaeria sp.).Does not seem overly susceptible. l. Resistance/susceptibility to Phomopsis twig blight (Phomopsis vaccinii).Does not seem overly susceptible. m. Resistance/susceptibility to Botrytis (Botrytis cinerea).Does not seem overly susceptible. n. Resistance/susceptibility to leaf spot (septoria spp.).Does not seem overly susceptible. o. Resistance/susceptibility to leaf rust (Naohidemyces vaccinii).Does not seem overly susceptible. p. Resistance/susceptibility to bud mites (Acalatus vaccinii).Undetermined.

STEM

(11) General: a. Suckering tendency.Low. b. Mature cane color.Pantone colors Bark 16-1506, Ecur Drab 14-1212; Aztec 18-1130. c. Mature cane length.Average 0.45 m. d. Mature cane width.Average 1.82 cm. e. Bark texture.Rough. f. Fall color on new shoots.Pantone color Bitter Chocolate 19-1317. g. Surface texture of new wood.Smooth. h. Internode length on strong, new shoots.18.49 mm. i. Average number of buds per fruiting lateral.6.8.

FOLIAGE

(12) General: a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.In Lowell, Oreg., mid-March. b. Leaf color (top side).Pantone color Burnt Olive 18-0521. c. Leaf color (under side).Pantone color Laden Green 18-0422. d. Leaf arrangement.Alternate. e. Leaf shape.Elliptic. f. Leaf margins.Entire. g. Undulation of margin.None. h. Leaf venation.Pinnate. i. Leaf apices.Acute. j. Leaf bases.Acute. k. Leaf length.Average 56.57 mm. l. Leaf width.Average 32.69 mm. m. Leaf length/width ratio.1.73 medium. n. Leaf nectarines.Absent. o. Pubescence of upper side.None. p. Pubescence of lower side.None. q. Cross sectional profile.Flat. r. Longitudinal profile.Plane. s. Attitude.Spreading to ascending. t. Fall leaf color.Pantone color Bitter Chocolate 19-1317. Petioles: a. Length.Average 2.83 mm. b. Width.Average 1.08 mm. c. Color.Pantone color Apple Green 15-0543. d. Petiole surface texture.Smooth.

FLOWERS

(13) General: a. Time of beginning of flowering.Approximately early to mid-April in Lowell, Oreg. b. Time of 50% anthesis.Approximately late April to early May in Lowell, Oreg. c. Flower shape.Cylindrical to urceolate. d. Flower bud density.Medium. e. Flower fragrance.Sweet, faint. f. Immature flower color.Pantone colors Coral 17-1736 and Antique White 11-0105. Corolla: a. Color.Pantone color Snow White 11-0602. b. Length.8.38 mm. c. Width.8.61 mm. d. Aperture width.4.64 mm. e. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.Weak. f. Corolla ridges.Present. g. Protrusion of stigma.Even with lip of corolla to an average of 0.15 mm. above lip of corolla. Inflorescence: a. Length.34.07 mm. b. Diameter.29.68 mm. c. Length of peduncle.19.46 mm. d. Surface texture of peduncle.Smooth. e. Color of peduncle.Pantone color Green Banana 14-0434. f. Length of pedicel.6.23 mm. g. Surface texture of pedicel.Smooth. h. Color of pedicel.Pantone colors Peridot 17-0336 and Green Oasis 15-0538. i. Number of flowers per cluster.9. j. Flower cluster density.Medium. Calyx (with sepals): a. Diameter.6.03 mm. b. Color (sepals).Pantone colors Green Olive 17-0535, Water Cress 17-0220 and Faded Rose 18-1629. Stamen: a. Length.5.31 mm. b. Number per flower.12. c. Filament color.Pantone color Celery Green 13-0532. Pistil: a. Length.7.06 mm. b. Ovary color (exterior).Pantone color Green Oasis 15-0538. c. Style length.8.51 mm. Anther: a. Length.4.51 mm. b. Number.2 per stamen. c. Color.Pantone color Apricot Orange 17-1353. Pollen: a. Abundance.Moderate. b. Color.Pantone colors Apricot Orange 17-1353. c. Self-fertility.Very good with approximately 87% self-pollinated flowers reaching maturity.

FRUIT

(14) General: a. Time of fruit ripening.Mid season in Lowell, Oreg. b. Time of 50% maturity.Approximately early to mid-July in Lowell, Oreg. c. Fruit development period.67 days in Lowell, Oreg. in 2017. d. Mean harvest date.July 10. e. Mean date last pick.August 5. f. Cluster density.Moderate-high. g. Berries per cluster.8 berries per cluster. h. Unripe fruit color.Pantone colors Green Apple 15-0543, Mineral Red 17-1537, Baked Apple 18-1648. i. Ripe berry color.Pantone color Blue Ice 17-3922. j. Berry skin color after polishing.Pantone color Dark Navy 19-4013. k. Berry surface wax abundance.Heavy. l. Berry flesh color.Pantone colors Pale Star 12-0626 to Vanilla 12-0712. m. Berry weight.Average 1.80 g. n. Berry height from calyx to scar.12.73 mm. o. Berry diameter.18.20 mm. p. Calyx aperture.Average 6.04 mm. q. Calyx depth.Average 2.15 mm. r. Pedicel length.Average 10.90 mm. s. Pedicel surface texture.Smooth. t. Berry detachment force.Easy. u. Berry shape.Oblate. v. Fruit stem scar.Small, dry. w. Sweetness when ripe.Medium. x. Firmness when ripe.High. y. Acidity when ripe.Low. z. Storage quality.Very good.

SEED

(15) General: a. Seed abundance in fruit.Moderate. b. Seed color.Pantone color Madder Brown 19-1331. c. Seed dry weight.0.40 mg. per seed. d. Seed length.Average 1.70 mm.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

(16) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Comparison Table State of Denomination Characteristic State of expression of of for expression of candidate variety similar variety comparison similar variety ZF08-029 Draper Fruit size Large Medium (U.S. Pat. No. (18.6 mm/2.4 g) (17.4 mm/1.8 g) PP15,103) Legacy Firmness Firm Firm (not patented) (248.78 g/mm) (248.88 g/mm) G-344 Vigor Moderate High (not patented) Draper Growth habit Upright to Semi- Round sprawl